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Native Plant Society of Texas

St. Andrew's-cross

Hypericum hypericoides

Other common name(s):

Family:

Hypericaceae (St. John's wort Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous, Shrub

Height

to
ft.

Spread

to
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Well Drained, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low, Medium

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Maintenance

Low maintenance. Use this plant in pollinator gardens or any naturalized area. It can also be planted at pond or stream margins in well-drained soils. Can be found growing in the coastal plain in light sandy soils of prairies, open pine-hardwood and hardwood forests, thickets, grasslands, and bogs. Propagation: seed, stem cutting.

Comments

Blooms July-October. Growth form varies from shrub-like to matt-forming. It is dense, erect, and multi-stemmed. The flowers are distinctive, 4 bright yellow petals that form a cross. They bloom from the upper leaf axils. Leaves can be deciduous to evergreen depending on the region. The bark is exfoliating and reddish. The fruit is a reddish-brown capsule.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Sow seeds directly in the garden any time after danger of frost has passed. Alternatively, get a head start and plant them indoors a few weeks before the last expected frost. Be patient, as germination takes one to three months. Fruits are capsules that burst open upon maturity and contain dozens to hundreds of tiny brown seeds. Collect fruit when brown and dry, but before they open. 1) https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/st-johns-wort/growing-st-andrews-cross-plant.htm 2) https://longleafpine.fnpschapters.org/data/uploads/propagation-manual-for-fl-panhandle-native-plants/hypericum-hypericoides.pdf
Stem Cutting Remove leaves from the lower half of the cutting to expose a section of the stem. Dip the cutting ends in rooting hormone before planting them in a well-draining soil mixture. Keep the soil consistently moist and provide dappled sunlight until the cuttings establish a strong root system. Cuttings should be taken from healthy mature plants in autumn or early winter. Cut a stem that is 4-6 inches long. Ensure the cutting has several sets of leaves. The best cuttings come from the ends of branches that have not flowered yet. https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Hypericum_hypericoides.html
Clump Division Carefully dig up the plant, separate the roots, and replant the divisions in the desired location. In early spring or late fall, divide established plants. https://thecameronteam.net/st-andrews-cross-native-plant-guide/

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason